A traveller's journey continues

Neither good nor evil, they are life in its purest form. Vulgar and strange, they have inspired fear in humans since the dawn of time and have, over the ages, come to be known as "mushi."The traveler caught in mountain's shadow; divine beast killed by one for the sake of another. As human assumes the role of a god, sacrifice balanced by salvation. Honorable death invited in the night.A woman old before her time, a boy abandoned to the fates. A bond of things unseen. Naive desire to salvage lost hope will instead ensure a curse's survival, the first step upon a long and lonely path.A young girl fleeing the future will find her means of escape. A body embraced, the sun's warmth false hope that life persists within. A bridge providing passage in one direction of travel only.The progeny of a bamboo thicket, the bane of a neighboring village. Childhood friendship blind to fear repaid by one forever cursed. Love first selfish without intent begets an end far from desired.